ODU study: 89% want light rail extended

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - In a study released by Old Dominion University, 89 percent of responders say they are supportive of extending light rail.

"Life in Hampton Roads" is an annual study conducted by Old Dominion University's Social Science Research Center, which also reported residents are starting to feel more optimistic about living conditions in Hampton Roads.

The survey was conducted between June 2 and Aug. 10 with 762 participants from the seven major area cities.

Other highlights of the survey include:

• A third of the responders did not know there were plans to put tolls on the tunnels
• The top three light rail expansion destinations were the Oceanfront, Town Center and Norfolk Naval Base
• To fund light rail, 22.6 percent said increase taxes, 19.2 percent said borrow money and 10.1 percent increase the fuel tax
• Twenty percent said they have ridden the Tide
• A majority of responders (58.9 percent for local and 65.4 percent for state) said they felt local and state government  waste a fair amount of resources rather than use them wisely
• Six percent of responders said they or a member of their household had been a victim of crime
• A majority of responders (56.4 percent) rated the overall quality of life in Hampton Roads as "good"
• The average commute to work or school was 23.9 minutes
• A high majority of responders (87.4 percent) said they were registered to vote